The New York Rangers' Martin St. Louis, middle, celebrates with teammate Chris Kreider after scoring on Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick in the second period of Game 4 in the Stanley Cup Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. (Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday/MCT)

Photo: Thomas A. Ferrara, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

The New York Rangers' Martin St. Louis, middle, celebrates with...

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The New York Rangers and their fans celebrate a second-period goal by Martin St. Louis against Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

Photo: Robert Gauthier, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

The New York Rangers and their fans celebrate a second-period goal...

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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 11: Anton Stralman #6 of the New York Rangers defends the puck from Jeff Carter #77 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of Game Four of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Madison Square Garden on June 11, 2014 in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Photo: Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 11: Anton Stralman #6 of the New York Rangers...

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The New York Rangers' Benoit Pouliot, top, scores against Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, right, in the first period of Game 4 in the Stanley Cup Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. (Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday/MCT)

Shown on the Madison Square Garden scoreboard during a first-period stoppage Wednesday night, celebrities including former Ranger Mark Messier took turns holding up four fingers, apparently saying New York had that many more playoff victories in them. A couple of hours later, they needed only three fingers.

The Rangers delayed their funeral, getting outstanding goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist in Game 4 for a 2-1 win over the Kings, who have a 3-1 Stanley Cup Finals lead.

"We didn't want to see the Cup coming out on our home ice," Lundqvist said.

With 1 minute, 11 seconds to go, a puck got through Lundqvist and stopped at the goal line, where Derek Stepan knocked it away with his glove, sliding it toward his goalie.

The puck seemed to stop magically on a small pile of snow behind Lundqvist.

"Sometimes the hockey gods are there, and they were there tonight," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said.

"After I pushed it back under him, I don't know where it's going or what's going to happen," Stepan said. "Kind of a lucky play."

Stepan said he "knew I couldn't put my hand on it, so I just used the side of my glove."

After the Kings sliced the deficit to 2-1 in the second period, the Rangers went into a defensive shell, getting outshot by 26-3 the rest of the way. But Lundqvist (40 saves) had all the answers.

"He stood on his head and made big saves at big times," Stepan said.

All told, the Kings held a 41-19 shots advantage, including a 15-1 third-period domination.

Game 5 is Friday night in Los Angeles, where the Kings will attempt to win their second Stanley Cup in three seasons. Los Angeles hoped to complete the first sweep since 1998.

"We wanted to close it out tonight and we weren't able to do it," Kings forward Anze Kopitar said. "Now we have a desperate team coming into our building."

The Rangers are 11-2 in their past 13 elimination games, and Lundqvist was in goal for all of them. He has a save percentage of around .970 in eight straight wins while facing elimination.

"When everything is on the line, you just have to challenge yourself the right way," Lundqvist said. "You have to be focused. One mistake and the season is over. You're definitely aware of that."